An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Statuette of a Woman: "The Stargazer"c. 3000 BCE
"The Stargazer" moniker was given to this diminutive marble sculpture because its upturned head looks toward the heavens. Details carved into the stone are visible while painted features have been lost to time. We do not know how this object was used, but its enigmatic nature invites speculation.
We can identify this mysterious figure as female by the inscribed pubic triangle below her waist.
marble
Overall: 17.2 x 6.5 x 6.3 cm (6 3/4 x 2 9/16 x 2 1/2 in.)
Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund; John L. Severance Fund
In a quiet corner of an ancient gallery, a small marble figure captures the gaze of the onlooker. This petite sculpture, known affectionately as "The Stargazer," stands with its head reclined backward, almost as if it were in a trance, lost in the vastness of the night sky.
The smooth surface of the stone, worn by the passage of time, reveals delicate details that whisper stories from an era long gone. The remnants of painted features, now faded and elusive, elude our understanding, leaving us pondering who might have once marveled at this figure.
As we stand before it, the Stargazer invites us into its enigmatic world. We are compelled to ask ourselves: What was its purpose? Was it a source of inspiration for those who sought solace among the stars, or perhaps a guide for dreams that strayed too far from earthly bounds?
In the hushed stillness of the gallery, we can't help but feel a connection to this tiny work of art, its timeless longing for the heavens echoing in our own hearts. The Stargazer becomes more than a sculpture; it transforms into a vessel of mystery and wonder, reminding us to look up and embrace the infinite possibilities of our own lives.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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